MONTVILLE – A proposal to open a coffee shop at Austin Badger Park moved forward when Montville Township Trustees authorized payment of $4,500 to Lewis Land Professionals to survey the site.

Trustees voted to approve the civil engineering work March 14, two weeks after Intervention for Peace Director David Clardy presented his plans to duplicate the Spokes Café his organization opened in Medina.

The new project to employ adults with developmental disabilities is planned near the River Styx Road entrance to Austin Badger Park.

Clardy’s original proposal was to place the coffee shop in an abandoned restroom and storage building used when the property was part of the Blue Heron Golf Course. Township officials, however, determined rebuilding the pole building on an adjoining site would be preferable to rehabilitating the flood-damaged structure.

Clardy told township trustees his organization would use donations and volunteer labor to convert the building into a business that sold coffee and snacks and also rented bicycles and other sports gear. Township workers will also provide some manpower to prepare the foundation and do other site improvements.

“We want to expedite this process,” said Service Director Chris Kosman. “We want to have the grading and other site work done by the end of May.”

Township Trustee Sally Albrecht said she is excited about the new addition to the park.

“This is a neat project,” she said. “It’s a great example of collaboration between different organizations to produce a valuable asset for the community.”

More park news

Township trustees also authorized two other projects aimed at improving township parks.

The first was to pay the Davey Tree company $3,900 to do a risk assessment of trees found in Cobblestone Park, White Tail Park and the former Blue Heron Golf Course. Kosman said the survey would identify unhealthy trees that posed a risk of injury or property damage.

The second action was to contract with an employee of Cleveland Metroparks to create maps for the township parks which can be posted along hiking trails found in the parks. Police Chief Terry Grice said he agreed to do about eight hours of work on the project for a fee of $25 per hour.

Union laborers

Kevin Lewis, a representative of the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust, asked township trustees to consider using union workers on future construction projects. He also said he could help them get more qualified bidders when they were planning a new project. A resident of Seville, Lewis said his organization works with the Ohio Laborers District Council, which helps companies find skilled, motivated workers who are well trained.

Traffic survey

Police Chief Terry Grice reported a traffic study performed on Ridgewood Road by the Medina County Highway Engineer concluded that the 50-mph speed limit on the road could be raised. That was not the conclusion hoped for by some residents who requested that the speed limit on Ridgewood be reduced.

Forfeiture

Township trustees approved an action by Montville police to confiscate $1,595 found in the possession of a driver who was stopped on Interstate 71 for a traffic violation and ultimately charged with a felony related to illicit drugs. Part of the money, $319, will be turned over to the Medina County Prosecutor’s law enforcement trust fund.

Easter egg hunt

Trustee Sally Albrecht said the organization Montville Cares is moving along with preparations for its annual Easter egg hunt April 8 at Cobblestone Park. The free event will begin at 10:30 a.m. and feature separate hunts for age groups 2-4, 5-7, 8-10 and 11-12.